Planning appeal decision
Valentines Cottage, Crown Road, Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6JF
Planning appeal 3331586 at Valentines Cottage, Crown Road, Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6JF (Maldon District Council) was dismissed on 9 July 2024 by Inspector Pattison B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is in a suitable location for the proposal having regard to local and national planning policy, and the accessibility of the site to services, employment opportunities and facilities.
retention of dwelling as a separate dwelling (not in compliance with Condition 3 of FUL/MAL/04/00816) and use of existing parking and garden areas. New landscaping and improvements and minor alternations to the adjacent property
- Authority
- Maldon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Pattison B
- Postcode
- CM3 6JF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is in a suitable location for the proposal having regard to local and national planning policy, and the accessibility of the site to services, employment opportunities and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, having particular regard to the privacy for the occupiers of Valentines Cottage
What decided it
The proposal comprises unsuitable development in the countryside that would harm the character and appearance of the area, and these considerations carry significant weight that is not outweighed by the substantial weight given to the appellants' personal circumstances and modest scheme benefits.
The substantial weight attributed to the appellants' family member's personal circumstances and modest benefits from bringing the building back into use, environmental improvements, and housing supply did not outweigh the significant weight of harm from locating unsuitable development in the countryside and the harmful effect on rural character and appearance.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S8Policy S1Policy D1Policy D2Policy H4Policy T1Policy T2Policy N1Policy N2Policy C04 of the Maldon District Design Guide (2017)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 109Paragraph 84Paragraph 83Paragraph 124Paragraph 131Paragraph 56Paragraph 11
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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